Archive photo of Dakshineshwar Suresh. (Photo: Supreme Audit Institution)
New Delhi: Rising tennis star Dakshineshwar Suresh has been inducted into the Target Asian Games Collection (TAGG) following his outstanding performance in India’s recent Davis Cup qualifying win over the Netherlands in February.The decision was taken during the 169th meeting of the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), which also approved financial assistance to Yuki Bhambri and Sumeet Nagal as part of their preparations for major events like the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi Nagoya, Japan, and the upcoming Davis Cup ties.
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Dhakshineswar earned his inclusion in the TAGG on the back of an impressive display during India’s Davis Cup match against the Netherlands.
The youngster played a crucial role in the match, producing one of the most memorable performances of his young career.The 25-year-old won his two singles matches against higher-ranked opponents – world No. 88 (Jesper de Jong) and world No. 162 (Jay Dean Oden) – before partnering Bhambri to clinch the deciding doubles match. His contributions helped India secure a historic win that propelled the team into the second round of the Davis Cup qualifiers where they will face South Korea, from September 18-20, later this year.
The MoC noted that Dakshineswar’s performance underscores his potential as a strong contributor for India in both singles and doubles. The young player has already recorded six wins against top 200 players, including a win over top 100 players.
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Its inclusion brings the number of tennis players supported within the Target Asian Games Group to 12. The TAGG programme, which was introduced by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 2025, is modeled on the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and aims to provide financial support to athletes who are likely to medal at the 2026 Asian Games.In the same meeting, the Commerce Ministry also approved financial assistance packages for Bhambri (for Rs 28.89 lakh) and Nagal (for Rs 27.51 lakh) to support their international training and competition schedules in the run-up to the Asian Games and upcoming Davis Cup commitments.